Display-stand.



E; M. GRAHAM. DISPLAY STAND; Arrm'onmn rum) JUNE 6, 1908.

91 1,871; Patnted Feb. 9, 1909.

nnit EDWARD M. GRAHAM, or PORTLAND, MAINE.

nIsPLAY-s'rANn.

Specification of Letters Patent.

' Patented Feb. 9, 1909.

Application filed June 6, 1968. Serial No. $7,111.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, EDWARD M. GRAHAM, of Portland, in the county of Cumberland and State of Maine, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Display- Stands, of which the following is a specification.

. My invention relates to a supporting stand adapted primarily for holding cigar boxes in a show case but capable of being used generally as a display stand and for other kindred purposes.

It is a well known fact that in show cases where cigars are sold the cigar boxes are of many different heights so that the appearance of the case is greatly marred by the irregular appearance of the boxes.

The principal object of my invention is to construct a support for cigar boxes and other things which may be made cheaplyenough so that the trade can afford to use it and which shall at the same time be substantial and readily adjusted in height to suit the varying heights of cigar boxes as they come. I accomplish this object by means of the device hereinafter described and claimed.

I illustrate my invention by means of the accompanying drawing in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of my stand with a box of cigars on top, Fig. 2 is a plan of the device, Fig. 3 is an enlarged section on the line 0cac of Fig. 1, Fig. 4 is a side elevation showing the stand adjusted for a display stand and Fig. 5 is a detail of the wire rest.

The stand is made up of a top plate B and a lower plate B preferably rectangular in form and connected by a set of lazy tongs levers c, c, c, 0 here shown as four in number pivoted by opposite joints to the plates so that the latter may be adjusted to any required distance apart and at varying angles. The ends of the levers c are pivoted to the plates by means of ears I) which are struck from the metal of the plates and bent to form two parallel ears between which the levers may be clamped.

As here shown, each of the ears of the upper plate is formed by cutting out a half circle at one side of the center forming an opening 6 the portion cut out being bent down, then inward parallel to the plate'and somewhat below it to form a shallow space 5 for the purpose hereafter described and thence down to form the ears proper. The ears on the lower plate are formed in the same manner as those of the upper plate.

Between the ends of the lazy tongs levers are friction washers" w and through the joint isa clampmg screw D provided as here shown with'a thumb piece on the end with a nut 61 on the opposite end. It will be seen that by loosening the screw D the plates may be adjusted any desired distance apart and any cigar box as A may be placed on it and leveled up to come level with other boxes in the show case.

When the device is to be used as a display stand for cigar boxes or for any other articles of merchandise which it is desired to display, it may be desirable to slope the upper plate to display the goods to more advantage.

To revent the articles sliding off the stand, provide arest which will be out of the way when the stand is to be used for supporting cigar boxes but which may be quickly brought into position, above the edge of the upper p ate when needed. This rest is composed of a strip of resilient metal ada ted to be retained by the s ace and to be moved longitudinally t erein and having an upward projection at the end adapted to form a rest. As here shown, I make use of a piece of resilient wire E bent in the center and folded back with parallel limbs e which pass through the space (1 with two spreading portions 6 terminating in short upturned ends e. The ends 6 impinge normally on the under side of the upper plate just back of the front edge but when the device is to be used as an inclined display stand, these ends are drawn forward until they clear the edge, when the spring of the wire will force them up into position above the edge to form a rest or stop for holding articles on the inclined surface of the top plate. The friction of the rest E in its holding recess is sufficient to hold the ends a inplace against the weight of any article on the inclined stand.

This device it will be seen may be made of cheap material like tin and bar iron and put together with little work and sold to the trade at a very low price. It is uickly adjusted, either in a horizontal or in lined position, and it constitutes a device admirably adapted to the purposes for which it is made.

The device is adapted for a great variety of uses. As specified, it may be used for leveling up cigar boxes, displaying cigars in boxes, displaying books, pictures, etc. and

by fastening the lower plate on the wall by roj ecting means of a hole in said plate it may be hung up and used for supporting a hand mirror for shaving, etc.

I claim:

1. The herein described sup orting stand consisting of a top plate and a ottorn plate, a pair of ears on the top plate formed from the material of the plate each cut and bent downward on each side of the center, thence being bent inward to form a shallow space beneath the plate and thence downward to form the ear proper, a pair of ears on the lower plate, lazy tongs levers pivoted by opposite joints to said ears and a rest consisting of a flexible resilient metal strip extending through said shallow space and adapted to slide longitudinally therein and having a short upturned end adjacent to the front edge of the plate.

2. The herein described supporting stand consisting of a top plate and a bottom plate, a pair of ears on the top plate formed from the material of the plate, each cut and bent downward on each side of the center, thence being bent inward to form a shallow space 1.

beneath the plate and thence downward to form the ear proper, a pair of ears on the lower plate, lazy tongs levers pivoted by opposite joints to said ears and a rest consisting of a resilient wire folded on its center to form two parallel sides adapted to be held in said shallow space and to slide longitudinally therein with two spreading portions terminating in two upturned ends adapted to impinge against the under side of the plate near the front edge or to project up by said edge to form a support for the contents of the stand.

In testimony whereof I have ailixed my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

EDWARD M. GRAHAM. Witnesses:

S. WV. BATES, ELEANOR W. DENNIS. 

